Vol. XX 



1920 



] Campbell, Additions to H. L. White Collection." 59 



In the mature females, taken Noveml)er on Moa Island, the 

 oil-green backs, when held at certain angles of liglit, show more 

 yellowish iridescence than do birds of the southern form, thus 

 more resembling the backs of P. iris. Again, the insular birds 

 on the under surface are lighter-coloured than those from Cape 

 York. The shoulders and upper tail coverts are pale silvery 

 (lumiere) blue, and the under surface light (buckthorn) brown. 



Under Gould's name {simillima) this northern race may be 

 recognized.* But where does it break from the true strepitans ? 

 Mr. Mathews, with his intermedia, points to the Bellenden-Ker 

 Range. But birds from that region and Cardwell can hardly 

 be separated from those of type locahty — New South Wales. 



[18/12/19. — Pitta calling in scrub on Lady Peak, but could not 

 locate it. Again hear Pittas calling in the scrub. On imitating 

 call one bird comes within view, and I secure it. Cannot get a 

 glimpse of the other ; it is too wary. Another female flushed 

 later (24/1/20) appeared to be breeding., ig/12/19. — 9 p.m., 

 heard Pitta calls.] 



* ? Gerygone magnirostris, Gould. Long-billed Fly-eater. 

 Etheloriiis m. magnirostris. 



One $. This little species is found on other islands in Torres 

 Strait, and it would be interesting to learn if it also frequents the 

 mangrove tracts of the southern coasts of New Guinea, as Dr. 

 Ramsay has hinted. 



[29/11/19. — Heard Gerygones calhng, and located them feeding 

 amongst the tops of the mangroves, fully 40 feet up.] 



*Pachycephala melanura, Gould. Black-tailed Whistler. 



One ,S- Evidently immature, the breast, &c., not being fully 

 yellow. The specimen more resembles the female of the species. 



Rhipidura rufirons, Latham. Rufous-fronted h^antail. 

 Ho'wcavis r. konpi. 



One ?. Much has yet to be learned about this migratory 

 favourite. I can observe no difference between this female from 

 the far-away north and a specimen taken in Victoria in summer 

 time. Both have tails tipped with greyish or dull white, not, 

 as in dryas, with some tail feathers white for nearly half their 

 length ; and j^et, between these locahties, we have an inexpectata, 

 an intermedia, and a kempi ! Are they not ornithologically the 

 same entity — the same organism ? 



Myiagra latirostris, Gould. Broad-billed Flycatclier. 

 Mastersornis ruficollis kempi. 



One (J, I $ (juv.) The male is typical, but the immature female 

 is Hghter-coloured. 



* Under the name simillima, the " Brit. Mus. Catalogues," xxiv., p. 429, 

 record a specimen from West Island, Torres Strait. Mr. M'Lennan passetl 

 close to West Island 6/ 12/ 19. He states that it is noted for a certain 

 species of pink orchid that prows nowhere else except on the rocky and 

 rugged surface of that island. 



